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Fire Truck Christmas
Regular price
Easy DIY Paint By Numbers Kits For Adults
Take the struggle out of Struggling Artist!
Unleash your creativity with EASY, FUN, BEAUTIFUL DIY paint-by-numbers kits for adults. Spend a relaxing night in and create your own awesome wall art.
**Design not found in stores**
Why you should order:
- FANTASTIC GROUP ACTIVITY - Spend a special night in with the girls (wine recommended)
- DIY HOME DECORATION - Paint your own wall art, even if you have zero artistic ability
- PERFECT GIFT IDEA - Whether it's for a birthday or Mother's Day, give a gift they'll love
- RELAX. Take your mind off the anxieties of the work day and your crap boss. Who needs therapy when you have paint by numbers?
Oh, and did we mention..
**FREE SHIPPING** We ship to anywhere in the world at absolutely no cost to you. As we manufacture our kits overseas, it should take approximately 12-20 days for your order to arrive. If you order more than one, you may receive multiple packages.
**100% SATISFACTION GUARANTEE** If you're unhappy with your purchase for any reason at all, we'll be happy to refund you 100% of the purchase price. No questions, no hassle.
Need help with your purchase? Talk to a human and shoot us an email at email@example.com or hit us up on Facebook!
I'm in - what's in the package?
-1x numbered acrylic-based paint set
-1x pre-printed numbered high-quality canvas
-1x set of 3x paint brushes (Varying bristles - 1x small, 1x medium, 1x large)
-1x hanging kit, including 2x screws and 2x non-track hooks
-1x set of easy-to-follow instructions for use
**Frame not included**
About Us
At My Paint By Numbers, we believe that you don't have to go to a therapist to get therapy -- paint your own wall art instead! We've partnered with global artists and manufacturers to deliver high-quality paint-by-numbers kits for adults featuring one-of-a-kind designs.
DID YOU KNOW: Breakthrough scientific studies back in 2005 proved that creative activities like coloring and painting can cause anxiety levels to drop. And let's face it, your wall needs redecorating anyway, right?
Skills required:
- Ability to color inside the lines
- Ability to color outside of the lines


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I started posting on HowieinSeattle in 11/04, following progressive American politics in the spirit of Howard Dean's effort to "Take Our Country Back." I decided to follow my heart and posted on seattleforbarackobama from 2/07 to 11/08.--"Howie Martin is the Abe Linkin' of progressive Seattle."--Michael Hood.
"Street protest the only recourse for disempowered Americans."
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subset: commoncrawl


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Alrighty then- I guess this is my last session of being a Marvel fangirl (…for now 😉). You know the drill now- I get dressed up and there will be spoilers. And since this is such an explosive part of the story, let's start this with a *bang* shall we? (cos heads up: I have a lot of controversial opinions coming up)
Captain America: Civil War– yeahhh there's no easy way to say this- this wasn't exactly what I wanted. All the reviews told me that "it's so hard to pick a side" and "both of them have a point"… and I didn't think that at all. I was *freedom* and #teamCap all the way. I know a lot of people like this movie, cos they say it's nuanced, but I just thought Stark was wrong and that was that. I think after all the trouble Stark caused in Age of Ultron, he could have taken a step back, rather than screwing everyone else over for his mistakes and robbing them of their rights. Also, again I'm on the POOR BUCKY train. And I ain't ever getting off. Again, I get that people see why Stark is angry with the Cap/Bucky- but IT'S NOT HIS FAULT (and maybe if Tony got his head out of his arse he'd see that) (oh gosh I'm gonna have all the Iron Men coming after me for that, aren't I?) So yeah, I'm still a tad frustrated with this movie. I think I expected wayyy too much out of this one, thinking there would be some serious debate, and it didn't deliver. One massive plus though was the introduction of Holland's Spiderman 😀 And it does set up plenty for Infinity War and that's not a bad thing.
3½/5 bananas
Spider Man: Homecoming– I've gotta admit, cos the Spiderman market is so oversaturated of late, this was one of the movies I was least keen to see… and it ended up being one of the best! Go figure 😉 But who's complaining? This was a great Spiderman story. From the moment that Marvel logo rolled in, I realised Spiderman had come home. Thankfully, there were no origin stories, no campy villains. This was just pure fun. Finally, finally Spiderman felt like a proper kid. It did feel a little choppy with the opening and I wasn't crazy about how wrapped up it was with Tony Stark. I probably could have done without it being quite so high tech (even if I get why it was used). However, it was cool that he created the web himself, like in the comics. And omg Stan Lee telling off Spidy was hilarious. It's genuinely the funniest rendition of Spidy I've seen. The characters were also superb- both MJ and Peter were so cute. And it really ends on a high- especially with that end credit scene where May finds out! I even loved Donald Glover's small role. Basically, there's an awful lot to love about this movie!
4½/5 bananas
Black Panther– this movie was clearly a labour of love- and I loved it for that! From the beautiful aesthetic to the way the soundtrack blended with the setting, this movie came together in a charming way. Some people have been saying that it's typical superhero fare- and that's true- yet that's all I've ever wanted from my superhero films. The opening was intriguing and set up for some surprisingly deep drama. I liked how it reflected real world issues, dipped its toes into some dark waters, yet didn't become overshadowed by these themes. Instead, the focus of the movie was on taking the mantle of the father and trying to be better. All of this tied in so well with the villain- who was both relevant and unhinged enough to be entertaining. I especially loved how it presented the "monsters of our making" idea. For me, this went beyond being a simple action flick. The tension and emotions were all on point. I was moved by the lovable characters and on the edge of my seat from beginning to end. I'm happy to say Black Panther more than lived up to expectations. In fact, I'd go as far as to say the (slightly unpopular opinion) that I enjoyed it more than Infinity War… though we'll get to more on that in a minute. *This* is how you do a superhero movie!
5/5 bananas
Guardians of the Galaxy: Vol 2– first off: I LOVED the villain in this movie. I know a lot of people don't think this is as good as the first one… but I think it's better. The journey is so personal. And it's ridiculously emotional. What's clever about these movies is how they consistently add the family drama element to this saga. Not only does it explore the found family element so well, it also makes me more invested in the characters and ties in spectacularly with Infinity War (…more on that soon I promise…). All of this coupled with the fact it's packed with funny, cute, emotional moments meant this was an out of this world experience!
5/5 bananas
Doctor Strange– this was very average for a Marvel movie, but an interesting start. Personally, I found Doctor Strange an okay character- not too enthralling, not too dull. I think my main takeaway was that he's a poor man's Tony Stark- slightly egotistical, allegedly very special. And I say allegedly cos aside from being a proven surgeon, there isn't actually an explanation as to *why* he's so special. It's (rather frustratingly) repeated throughout the plot, there's no explanation for his magical talent. Is it his intellect? Determination? Random natural selection? I just wanted to be given something. Ultimately, there was enough to this movie that I didn't have a bad time while watching it, yet it failed to blow me away. The villain was meh, however, I do kinda want to see more of this character to get to the heart of what makes him tick.
3/5 bananas
Thor: Ragnarok– unpopular opinion: I wasn't crazy about this movie. I'm beginning to wonder if I'm just super fussy with movies- cos everyone loved this movie, and I just didn't. The tone and subject matter were endlessly jarring. I kept getting muddled about what I was supposed to be feeling in a lot of really intense action end-of-the-world scenes that were played for shits and giggles. A lot of the jokes didn't land for me- it was too weird to take the subject matter of Ragnarok, with all its emotionally hard-hitting elements, and slam it into a buddy-comedy vibe. There's an outstanding review for this movie over on Re-enchantment of the World, where they get into a lot more detail about why this doesn't totally work- but one thing that they brought up that I will mention is how it was funny, but weightless. I think that about sums it up. There could have been *a lot* more substance to this movie. As much as it occasionally made me laugh, I came out of this feeling disappointed and empty (I do like the soundtrack though).
2½/5 bananas
Avengers: Infinity War– it's probably pretty clear to you from all these reviews that I've become a little obsessed with this movie. I can't help but mention it in virtually every other review. It's a testament to the power of this movie. So let it be said, for the record, that I really liked Infinity War… but it felt like half a movie. I feel like I'm reserving judgement on it until I see how it ends. Months after I watched it and I'm still uncertain about some elements. It does blend the multiple storylines pretty well, but a lot of the ideas for defeating Thanos seemed jumbled together. There's simply so much going on and a lot of it is too inconclusive for me to make my mind up about it. That said, this has some emotional punch. I mean… wow. I can't believe they went there. Most of my favourites ended up dead. For that alone, it's going to be remembered as a landmark movie. And it's definitely got me looking up all the fan theory videos and wondering who made the worst decision (I'm going with Peter- yeah Thor had the chance to win and failed, but obviously the real fault lies with Peter losing his head… though can you blame him? He's only human- let's hope he redeems himself in the next movie). Of course, I really loved the fact this was very much about Thanos- he's such a domineering character. Even if I still can't make total sense of his logic (I mean, the population will continue to grow and resources will continue to diminish… so surely it makes more sense to focus your effort on increasing resources?) I liked that this focused on his sense of family and loss. It was super well done. My only issue that remains is I don't think I can judge this as a standalone movie… please don't snap me out of existence for saying as much 😉
4½/5 bananas
… although my opinion on this movie is subject to change…
Ant-Man and the Wasp– Yeesh- this one really allows us to see the accords in action and I KNEW I WAS RIGHT. It sucks so much. At the risk of returning to my rant at the start, Stark was wrong, he made a Frankenstein-style error and then decided to rectify that by punishing all of humanity. It makes sense that he had the arrogance to play god and then thought that he could rectify his mistakes by being an authoritarian… BUT GAHFJFJJKND WHAT A DOUCHESCHNOZZLE!!! So, back to the movie. Iron Man has forced a bunch of (more or less) innocent people on the run and made the best father ever have to hide out in his house. Much like the first one, I loved the shrinking tech in this film- they do it in such a fun way. The villain had a personal connection to the story- alas also pretty forgettable. This was definitely what I'd class as an entertaining romp of a movie… until that end credit scene- when HOLY HELL we see what's at stake for Infinity War! (yes, it had to go back to that again 😉) If you do like Marvel movies, I can safely say this is enjoyable and a great place for me to end these reviews 😀
4/5 bananas
Alrighty then- I know I've gone against the grain on a couple of these- so I'm curious to know: do you agree or disagree with any of my thoughts on Marvel Phase 3? Let me know in the comments!


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Yes, Apple Pay can be used at claires. To use Apple Pay at claires, customers simply need to add their credit or debit card to the Wallet app on their iPhone and then hold their phone near the contactless reader at the register. There is no need to open the claires app or even wake up their phone. Customers will know their payment has gone through when they feel a vibration and see "Done" on their screen.
Table of Contents
As of right now, claires does accept Apple Pay as a form of payment. There are other options available.
claires do accept other forms of payment, such as credit and debit cards, so customers will still be able to make purchases even if they can't use Apple Pay. In the future, it's possible that claires start accepting Apple Pay, so customers should keep an eye out for any updates from the store.
what is Apple Pay?
Apple Pay is a new way to pay for things using your iPhone or Apple Watch. With Apple Pay, you can use your iPhone or Apple Watch to pay for things in stores, in apps, and on the web. You can also use Apple Pay to send and receive money with friends and family.
Apple Pay is safe and secure because your card information is never shared with the merchant. When you pay with Apple Pay, your card number is not seen by the merchant. Instead, a unique Device Account Number is used to process your payment. This number is different for each device that you use with Apple Pay.
Apple Pay is easy to set up and easy to use. You can add your credit or debit card to Apple Pay in just a few steps. Then, you can start using Apple Pay right away.
Apple Pay is a mobile payment and digital wallet service by Apple Inc. that lets users make payments in person, in iOS apps, and on the web. It uses the iPhone's Near Field Communication (NFC) chip to make secure transactions. Apple Pay does not require Apple Pay-specific contactless payment terminals; it works with existing terminals that have been upgraded to support NFC.
Apple Pay was announced on September 9, 2014, at the iPhone 6 event. The service launched on October 20, 2014 in the United States with support from American Express, MasterCard, and Visa. In 2015, Apple added support for Discover and major credit and debit cards from leading banks including Bank of America, Capital One Bank, Chase, Citibank, and Wells Fargo.
Apple Pay is a mobile payment and digital wallet service by Apple Inc. that lets users make payments in person, in iOS apps, and on the web. It was designed to replace the physical credit card and provide a more secure way to pay.
To use Apple Pay, you add your credit or debit card to the Wallet app on your iPhone or iPad. You can also add your card to the Apple Watch. To pay, you hold your device near the contactless reader with your finger on Touch ID or Face ID. You can also use Apple Pay in some apps and on websites in Safari.
Apple Pay is accepted at millions of stores and is growing every day. It's a convenient, secure way to pay, and it's easy to set up.
How to use Apple Pay
Apple Pay is a secure way to make payments using your iPhone, iPad, or Apple Watch. You can use Apple Pay in stores, apps, and on websites. Here's how to set up and use Apple Pay.
To use Apple Pay in stores, hold your iPhone near the contactless reader with your finger on Touch ID. You don't need to wake up your iPhone or open an app.
Apple Pay is a new way to make purchases using your iPhone. To use Apple Pay, you will need to set up a credit or debit card with Apple Pay. Once you have set up your card, you can use Apple Pay to make purchases in stores, online, and in apps.
If you're paying with an iPhone or iPad, you can also use Face ID. To pay in apps and on websites in Safari, select Apple Pay at the checkout screen and complete the payment using Face ID or Touch ID.
You can add credit and debit cards to the Wallet app to use with Apple Pay. To add a card on your iPhone:
- To use Apple Pay online, select Apple Pay as your payment method at checkout.
- Then, hold your iPhone near the contactless reader with your finger on Touch ID.
- You will see a confirmation on the screen when your payment has been successful.
Other restaurants that accept Apple Pay
Apple Pay is one of the most convenient ways to pay for your meal at a restaurant. But what if your favorite restaurant doesn't accept Apple Pay? Here are some other restaurants that do accept Apple Pay so you can enjoy a hassle-free meal.
Chipotle is one of the most popular fast-casual Mexican restaurants and it accepts Apple Pay. So, if you're in the mood for some delicious burritos, tacos, or bowls, you can use Apple Pay to pay for your meal.
If you're looking for a more upscale dining experience, many steakhouses such as Ruth's Chris and Morton's The Steakhouse accept Apple Pay. So, you can enjoy a nice steak dinner without having to worry about carrying cash or credit cards.
Apple Pay has quickly become one of the most popular methods of payment, accepted at many major retailers and restaurants. Here is a list of some popular restaurants that accept Apple Pay:
McDonald's was one of the first major chains to accept Apple Pay. Customers can use Apple Pay to order ahead via the McDonald's app, and then pay for their meal when they pick it up.
Starbucks is another chain that accepts Apple Pay. Customers can use their iPhone or Apple Watch to pay for their coffee or food items in-store. They can also use Apple Pay to reload their Starbucks card balance via the app.
Chick-fil-A is another restaurant that allows customers to use Apple Pay. Chick-fil-A has kiosks in its stores where customers can use their iPhones or Apple Watches to pay for their meals.
Whole Foods Market: Whole Foods Market was one of the first retailers to accept Apple Pay. You can use Apple Pay to pay for your groceries at any Whole Foods location nationwide.
In-N-Out Burger: In-N-Out is a popular fast food chain on the West Coast that recently started accepting Apple Pay.
-Panera Bread
-5 Guys
-Shake Shack
The pros and cons of using Apple Pay
The Pros of Apple Pay
- It's a fast and convenient way to pay for purchases.
- You can use it in brick-and-mortar stores as well as online.
- It's more secure than using a credit or debit card because your account information is not stored on your device.
- There are no fees associated with using Apple Pay.
- You can use Apple Pay to make purchases in other countries.
The Cons of Apple Pay
- It can be difficult to find retailers that accept Apple Pay.
- You need an iPhone or Apple Watch to use it, which not everyone has.
- If your device is lost or stolen, someone could potentially use your Apple Pay account to make unauthorized purchases.
- Not all banks and credit card companies support Apple Pay yet.
- There have been some reports of technical glitches with the service.
In conclusion,claires accept apple pay as a mode of payment. This is convenient for customers who use apple products and have apple pay set up. claires also offer other modes of payment, such as cash and credit cards.


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Today's News: Our Take - The Following's Annie Parisse: The FBI Is "Slowly But Surely" Catching Up to Joe Carroll
The stakes are raised to a new level for the FBI on Monday's episode of The Following, now that escaped serial killer Joe Carroll (James Purefoy) has accomplished his first goal after getting out of prison: reuniting with his wife Claire (Natalie Zea) and son Joey (Kyle Catlett).
"The intensity of our need to find them is amped up," Annie Parisse, who plays Agent Debra Parker, tells TVGuide.com. "We know they have Claire. We know they have Joey. And we're honing in on their location, but it's still a needle in the haystack."
The Following: What's Joe's larger plan?
The search will take Parker and Ryan Hardy (Kevin Bacon) to Manhattan briefly as they try to track down a lead. Will this tip be the one that finally gives the FBI a big break in the case? Parisse acknowledges viewers' frustration that, despite being in prison for the past eight years, Carroll always seems to be 10 steps ahead of the authorities.
"You have a really tricky thing here," Parisse says. "We don't know the breadth of his network. So I feel like what's happened for us on the FBI team - initially we really thought it was the group at the farm house, and we had no reason to believe that it was more than them. Our first inkling that it was more than them was as we came in on the farm house.
"I think this goes for the audience, too," she adds. "Every time we think we have figured out what Joe's goal is, it's actually not that. And that continues to be true up to the very last episode of the show."
TV Scorecard: What's renewed? What's canceled?
On Monday's episode, Parker and Hardy land in hot water after discovering that there's an aspect to Joe's cult that they were previously unaware of - and it involves tactical training. "Their skill set is so much higher than we initially anticipated," Parisse teases. "It's very intense."
As viewers learned in a previous episode, Parker has a very personal tie to cults, having grown up in one of which her parents (presumably) are still members. "This is an area of specialty for her that's both an academic specialty and also, obviously, she has a really strong personal connection to," Parisse says. "I think Parker before coming to the FBI spent a lot of time recovering from being in a cult. I think that she did a lot of work on herself. ... She's the type of person who is going to walk into the fire as opposed to leave it behind. And in the end, the choice to be in the FBI and the choice to make cults or alternative religion her specialty has to do with a continuing of that healing process and of trying to help people like herself and her family members."
Spring TV Preview: Must-see new shows
Parisse said she did extensive research into cults and cult mentality - everything from the murderous/suicidal followers of Charles Manson and Jim Jones to more controversial takes on certain religions as cults - to prepare for the role of Parker. "You'd just be amazed what people will do. You really would," she says. "And not crazy people. Ostensibly normal people. When the right person touches the right button in someone, you can get them to do almost anything. To me, the scariest thing about it was thinking, this could be you. It could be anybody."
To that end, can any of the characters on The Following be trusted?Or, with only five episodes left in Season 1, will someone be revealed as one of Carroll's cohorts? Who should viewers be wary of?
The scariest TV and movie serial killers: Joe Carroll and more
"Literally everyone," Parisse teases. "That's part of what makes the show so gripping. ... Kevin Williamson has really set up a world in which every single person on the show could be a follower. Your suspicions should stay alive."
Watch our full video with Annie Parisse below:
The Following airs Mondays at 9/8c on Fox.
View original The Following's Annie Parisse: The FBI Is "Slowly But Surely" Catching Up to Joe Carroll at TVGuide.com
Other Links From TVGuide.com


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Morning Jolt: Mom chases down accused kidnapper
In the news
A woman chased down a man who she said kidnapped her child. The Albuquerque woman's 5-year-old daughter was abducted by the man, and the mom gave chase, police said. The kidnapper shoved the girl out of the car at some point, but the mother didn't realize that and chased the man until he crashed. He escaped but police believe they have identified him. The 5-year-old is OK, reports said.
Gas update
Gasbuddy.com reports that the highest gas prices in the continental U.S. are in California ($4.045), Minnesota ($4.026) and Illinois ($4.019).
Opening bell
The Dow Jones opened at 15,233.22 after finishing down 42.47 points Thursday.
Motivational quote
"I think sometimes that people think brave means not being afraid, which of course it doesn't mean that at all. It means that you're afraid, but you move past that and do it anyway, do what you think is right." - Craig Ferguson
Watercooler talk: Kitten surprised by lizard
This kitten's reaction is classic.
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I've been in Kansas City for about 15 hours now. Yes, I've already made the requisite stop at Arthur Bryant's for barbecue (and I'm going to Oklahoma Joe's today)—but we all know that's not why I'm here.
I'm here to experience Google Fiber. You know, the service that promises 1Gbps for $70. The one that could potentially be incredibly disruptive if fully deployed across America. And yes, the one that prompted one Kansas City Web developer to pony up to buy a four-bedroom house and turn it into the Homes for Hackers—aka, the HackerHome.
I'm sitting, as I type this, at the Homes for Hackers, in Kansas City, Kansas. I can touch the Google Fiber box. I know I've become the envy of American geeks everywhere. My Twitter followers and Facebook friends have expressed all the myriad forms of speed lust.
I've posted the requisite speedtest pics (see below). My first test was on Google's own testing page, which returned 464Mbps down and 835Mbps up—the guys at the house had told me there had been reported speed issues earlier today and that these results are slow. As of right now, Wednesday morning, that same testing page is only returning about 30-50Mbps down—obviously far slower than it should be. (We have an e-mail to Google about this issue and will report back.)
A gigabit to where?
I have to say, though, I've yet to see stuff load crazy fast. I've tried all kinds of tests, traceroutes, normal Web use, Hulu/Netflix, and BitTorrent. I downloaded 1.2GB worth of data on BitTorrent (more than 7,000 seeds) in about 15 minutes. But another 25GB torrent has been going for nearly 10 hours, with 17 seeds at around 200kB per second.
In other words, so far, it seems like a gigabit connection really only gets close to such high speeds if you have something on the other end to serve it adequately and not throttle or otherwise slow it down. Even major websites like Microsoft were only serving me with a Windows 8 download at about 1-2MB per second, comparable to what my Ars colleagues on non-Fiber connections were getting.
As Ars staffer Lee Hutchinson pointed out, "You've in essence removed a bottleneck that the Internet isn't yet structured to deal with being removed. Having that much pipe means you're basically plugging your computer directly into the thing you're downloading from. Your own bandwidth is so great that it becomes immaterial. It becomes a question of how much bandwidth the other side has available."
So, Ars readers, what is a simple, meaningful test that I can do to best understand how fast this connection truly is (or isn't)? What downloads or uploads can I run to really push this network to its limits? I'm in town for about another 20 hours and will have a full report on Fiber and the Kansas City Hacker Village up before I head out.
Listing image by Aurich Lawson


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Why would one coding team drive itself to the edge of exhaustion to create a fully fledged video game—one featuring badgers—in the course of a single weekend? Why would 20? We sent our man in Australia to a 48 hour "game jam" to find out, and he came back with an amazing 24,000 word answer. If reading this piece doesn't make you want to whip out a laptop and do something creative, you may be dead inside. Here, then, is part one of our three part epic, covering the game jam's first evening; parts two and three will follow over the next two days.
Those three little words
"It's all about the food," says Truna.
It's Friday afternoon. I'm at Queensland University of Technology (QUT)'s Kelvin Grove campus in Brisbane, Australia, where 120 amateur and professional game developers are about to undertake a grueling test of stamina, nerves, and sanity. In a few minutes, at 4pm, they will receive three words. Then, in the following 48 hours, they must think up, prototype, and create a fully playable game based on those words.
Truna is the mastermind of this little competition-cum-social experiment in how to break a human being completely. She's the Brisbane International Game Developer Association chapter's "auntie" and a design lecturer at QUT. It is no exaggeration to say she is central to the local game dev community. Today, she is giddy at the creative energy around her.
But as she gives me the tour before she officially commences the competition, her real pride and joy is the kitchen, where a mountain of two-minute noodles sit beside a bucket of instant coffee packets, a box of bread loaves, and several jars of peanut butter. The kitchen, more than anything else, hints at the insanity that will take over the two coding rooms for the weekend. As Truna points out just how many noodles they have, several teams enter with supplies from the local supermarket: chips, energy drinks, pikelets (a kind of Australian pancake), and candy. Carbs, caffeine, and sugar.
"Behind there are two showers," she says. "They're kind of warm. Ish. For the first four people, at least."
|Read the complete story
|Part one: Friday night
|Part two: Saturday
|Part three: Sunday
Not that anyone is going to use them. If the teams want to complete their games, they will be at their workstations constantly for the whole weekend. The event is a physically and mentally draining challenge on pro and indie competitor alike. "I think they're all mad," Truna says. "All of them."
But a little madness never hurt creativity. Game jams are not a particularly new phenomena—nothing fosters creativity quite like tight restrictions. Here, the teams have 48 hours to present a fully fledged game to a panel of judges. These aren't prototypes. These aren't proof-of-concepts. These are games.
And the prize for all the tears, sweat, and possibly bloodshed? No cash. No game developer job. A mug of jellybeans. So why do the teams put themselves through so much torture just to make a game? To find out, I'm putting myself through my own 48 hour challenge: to document the entire game jam as it unfolds, completing a draft of this article as those around me complete their games. It isn't nearly as grueling as the challenge facing the contestants, to be sure, but hopefully my own insomnia will come to mirror theirs and provide some insight into just why they do this.
The contest takes place in two rooms: the main room consists of 16 six-person "indie" teams made up of equal part enthusiasts, university students, and former students. The other room hosts the four "pro" teams—professional, hardened game developers from local studios.
- iOS heavyweights Half Brick, creators of games like Jetpack Joyride and Fruit Ninja, are represented by a team of designers and coders under the flag "For Science!"
- A collective of developers from studios including Defiant Development, developers of WarCo, Voxel Agents, Cratesmith, and Strange Loop Games are working together in a "Alliance of Indies."
- Another eclectic group features members from Sega Studios, Three Blokes, and Last Level, are all working under the alias "Heinous Agenda" (named after the Facebook game four of the six team members are currently working on).
- Finally, there's the team of outsiders called "Convict Interactive," who have come interstate all the way from Wollongong just for this competition. (You don't need to know anything about Australian geography to know that a place like "Wollongong" is far away. From everywhere.)
Teams are lugging in their computers and connecting snakes of wires to power points and routers. Some groups, with their own sound designers, have sound boards and keyboards and guitars, while others have drawing tablets ranging from mousepad-size to intimidatingly huge. Other groups are ready to work solely on laptops and Macs.
It's nearly 4:00pm when all the teams converge on the indie room for the announcement of the three keywords. It comes via video. Yug, of ManaBar and AusGamers fame, addresses the crowd. He assures the contestants that they are certainly mad, and that everything will certainly go wrong. "It's all part of the charm," he says. Then he announces the three words:
Key. Badger. Suit.
Teams are out the door before the video ends, piling into the sunlight, onto the grass, onto the stairs, already throwing ideas at each other. Others huddle around their computers in tight scrums. Teams want to be prototyping within a couple of hours. Time is precious.
Truna sits outside in the courtyard between the indie and pro rooms, rolling a cigarette in the sun. "Look at it!" She points over at team Rockin' Moses, sitting on the grass across the courtyard. Arms are flailing and pens are scribbling. "I love it," says Truna. "I love it."
"Personally, I'd make an adventure game," she adds. "We haven't had an adventure game in the competition since 2008."
I ask her why the developers take part in such an insane endeavor, but she brushes my questions aside. "You can talk to me anytime, darling. Go listen to the brainstorming. This is the most exciting bit. This is when the magic happens!"
Magic, it would seem, means "lots of people shouting random sentences at each other." Few teams are saying anything that makes sense. Instead, all members are just saying whatever comes to mind, hoping something will stick. It looks less like brainstorming and more like brainvomiting.
I sit down with indie team Matchbox Battery, consisting predominately of QUT game design students who, like most of the teams, are trying to think of the most abstract descriptions of the three given words.
Isaac, who I am told is in charge of "particles," tells me, "We are thinking of 'keys' as in musical keys." James, one of the programmers, looks at Benn. "You'll be doing sound. You cool with that?"
Benn hesitates. "So I'll be doing like 80 percent of it?" he says. "Sure."
In the space of about a minute, Matchbox Battery discusses procedural generation, Terraria with badgers, and an environmental digging puzzle. They reject ideas as quickly as they think up new ones.
"Make it all 8-bit" says Benn. "That will make the sound easier."
Leaving them, behind the building I find pro team "For Science!" I ask Murray, a designer, if they have any ideas. He sighs and shakes his head. "Man. I got no idea what I'm doing here. I've been crunching all week."
Meanwhile, two teams have hit up the university pub on the far side of the courtyard. Indie team "Well Placed Cactus"—consisting of students from another local university, Griffith—pour out ideas as fast as they take in beer.
As I sit down, a programmer named Chris enthusiastically blurts out, "Holy shit! This game!" Tyson, the other programmer, explains the concept to me: "So you are in an AC-130, but British, and you are shooting badgers in jumpsuits at the enemy army."
Kai, the team's artist, frantically sketches everything the team says, regardless of how absurd it is. "We could make it black and white. Noir. Like the badgers," she suggests.
"WW1 parachute badgers?" someone says.
They are still debating how to implement the word "key."
"How about the location? Afgahnkeystan? Pa-keystan."
"No, we are doing World War Two."
"It could be a quay! Like, a harbour!"
They all drink their beer in a moment of agreeable silence.
Jack, the sound designer, constructively adds, "We could have bullet time with badgers as they go into their balls and explode!"
"You could call it Inglorious Badgers," I suggest.
The ideas are flying hard and fast, but I still have no idea how the game will play, and I don't think they do, either. Jack does some research on his phone, discovering via Wikipedia that there are nine different types of badgers.
"They could be our types of ammo. Hey! Sea otters are a type of badger!"
Everyone says it at the same time: "Torpedoes!"
Chris is practically bouncing. "Guys!" he shouts, "Let's go make this game!"
Edward Badgerhands
I leave them to it as they order another round of beer and continue brainstorming. Around the corner at the same bar sits the pro team Alliance of Indies. They are downing beers and eating meat pies out of a tupperware container. "I made 40 of them," says Kieran, a Cratesmith Studios coder, matter-of-factly.
Matt Ditton, convenor of the Game Design program at Griffith University and a producer at Defiant Development, is talking through ideas. "You are a badger. Burrowing down to get treasure. You wear a suit. You don't like dirt. .You are a classy badger?"
Thoughts shift. People correctly guess that most teams will be doing badgers as the playable character, and they decide to shift away from that approach.
Kieran pipes up. "Jack Skellingtonkey! Professional safe cracker!"
Kieran is writing down notes frantically as the team brainstorm. Simultaneously, Matt informs me, Kieran's pen is recording audio of the discussion. Supposedly, if he taps the page with the pen, it will tell him what people were saying when he was writing that note.
"It's a great brainstorming pen," says Kieran.
The team returns to the idea of Jack Skellingtonkey. They are now thinking of three playable characters, one for each keyword. The key will be able to unlock doors and safes. The suit can talk his way past guards. And the Badger
"He just throws shit down," says Matt.
"No," Tom protests. "Badgers are stealthy."
"Like an assassin?" asks Matt. "He digs the guards their graves!"
So it's a three-character bank heist game, but there's still a debate as to whether it is a Monaco (co-op 3 player) or a Trine (one player controlling three characters). The team is still debating this as I leave them.
On my way back to the other teams, I walk past Well Placed Cactus again. They call me over to hear their new idea.
"You are Edward Badgerhands! You suffered a horrible accident, lost your hands, and now your hands are badgers. You are going on this date with a girl, so it is a dating sim, but at the same time you must control the badgers and prevent them from mauling her to death while you try to sweet talk your way into her heart and her birthday suit."
"I liked the old idea better," I admit.
I wonder if perhaps they have passed the optimal mix of ideas and beer, but they don't seem too concerned with my disapproval.
One Lonely Developer
Back towards the indie room, I come across a single guy sitting by himself at a table. He has earphones on and sketches casually in a notepad, occasionally stopping and just staring into the sky. Truna lets me know that he is, in fact, a one-man team. Ash is his name, and his team is appropriately named One Lonely Developer. His day job is making Web apps, and I ask him what on earth drives him to do this, by himself, on his weekend off.
"It gives me an excuse to just mess with art and code and to be forced to do what I love," he says.
He's entered the competition several times before, but never alone. Every year he tries to make a browser-based multiplayer game and every year his team pulls up short of creating something shippable.
"So why don't you have a team this year?"
Ash sighs. "Well, after last year, my team really didn't want to come back."
I don't push for the story. I've heard of the competition's reputation. It has built new game studios and it has destroyed old friendships. Going alone means less voices arguing over the direction of the game, but it means a huge workload for Ash. Still, he seems unfazed and outlines several ideas he has to save time.
"I'll do the sound on GarageBand on the iPad, sprites will be sketched on my Wacom tablet and imported straight in to give it a sketchy look, and sound FX will be recorded on my iPhone in the recording mic."
Compared to the other groups frantically yelling absurd ideas over the top of each other, it's almost serene watching Ash conjure his game silently in his head and on his notepad, watching the sun set.


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Apple has turned its punishment from a UK High Court into an opportunity to point out that rival tablet maker Samsung's Galaxy Tab devices are "not as cool" as the iPad. And, as expected, Apple was able to do it using the UK judge's own words.
While Apple was busy suing Samsung in Germany and The Netherlands over alleged copying of the iPad earlier this year, Samsung filed a preemptive lawsuit in the UK to get a declaration that Samsung did not violate Apple's registered EU community design. UK courts are sometimes known to be more amenable to alleged infringers than to patent or design rightsholders, and their decision would apply to the entire EU, not just Britain.
Ultimately, Apple lost the original case and its appeal, with the courts consistently ruling that Samsung did not infringe on the registered design of the iPad.
Appeals Judge Sir Robin Jacob explained that the case wasn't about whether or not Samsung "copied" the iPad. "Infringement of a registered design does not involve any question of whether there was copying: the issue is simply whether the accused design is too close to the registered design according to the tests laid down in the law," he said.
As part of the ruling, Apple was compelled to post a link on its UK homepage to a statement that the UK court ruled Samsung did not infringe its registered EU design rights for the iPad. It was also compelled to post advertisements in prominent UK publications stating the same fact, as it was the only way to "correct the damaging impression" that Samsung was a copycat.
In addition to the required statement and a link to the full ruling, however, Apple pointed out that High Court Judge Colin Birss also called the iPad a "cool design," and the Samsung tablets "not as cool."
The extreme simplicity of the Apple design is striking. Overall it has undecorated flat surfaces with a plate of glass on the front all the way out to a very thin rim and a blank back. There is a crisp edge around the rim and a combination of curves, both at the corners and the sides. The design looks like an object the informed user would want to pick up and hold. It is an understated, smooth, and simple product. It is a cool design.
The informed user's overall impression of each of the Samsung Galaxy Tablets is the following. From the front they belong to the family which includes the Apple design; but the Samsung products are very thin, almost insubstantial members of that family with unusual details on the back. They do not have the same understated and extreme simplicity which is possessed by the Apple design. They are not as cool.
Apple also reiterated that a German court ruled that Samsung "engaged in unfair competition" by copying the iPad design, and that a US jury awarded Apple over $1 billion because Samsung had infringed a number of design and utility patents.
As our British readers might say, Apple was being "quite cheeky" in its compliance with the UK ruling, turning the statement from "Samsung didn't copy the iPad" into "Samsung did such a bad job of copying the iPad that it's not as cool." The accompanying print advertisements don't appear to have been published just yet, but we expect Apple will publish the same statement that appears on its UK website.


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Is it possible for this to turn into any more of a lost season for Gator fans than it's become?
Daily Archives: December 4, 2011
Adding insult to injury
Filed under Gators, Gators...
This year's wrong BCS argument
For all the light and heat being directed at which team deserves to be number two in the BCS standings, I find myself more worked up over why LSU has to play another school in the title game in the first place.
Filed under BCS/Playoffs
Semi-tough: Observations from the goal line
Whatever was said and done in the Georgia locker room at halftime yesterday, Mark Richt needs to gather that all together, crumple it into a little ball, douse it with gasoline, set it on fire and bury the ashes at sea. Boy, what a letdown.
My question from watching that game isn't whether Georgia had to play perfectly to beat an excellent LSU team – Georgia, after all, was winning 10-0 mid-second quarter despite two brutal whiffs on touchdown passes by King and Mitchell – but whether Georgia's best effort of the year would have been enough to pull off the upset.
We'll never know, of course, but that halftime lead, the only one which LSU has faced the entire season, suggests it would have at least been a close call. That it never came to that in the end I think boiled down to three key spots in the game:
- Georgia's second series of the second quarter. I don't know if was the result of the Dawgs' worst field position of the game up to that point, lack of faith in the receivers after numerous drops, a desire to shorten the first half or complete faith in what Grantham's defense was doing, but Bobo's play selection was a disaster. Two Crowell runs that were easily stuffed for little gain and a slow developing pass play which resulted in a huge sack put Georgia back at its own three for a punt. Up until then, Bobo had been aggressive, calling for passes on first down frequently; if he didn't have Chavis back on his heels, he at least had him guessing. The only first down Georgia gained over the rest of the first half was via a personal foul penalty and the Dawgs wouldn't get their next one until the waning moments of the third quarter with the game already out of hand.
- Touchdown, Tyrann Mathieu. This, of course, was Georgia's immediate reward for Bobo's play calls. Given its special teams struggles over the season, punting to Mathieu with Butler standing on the end line was a risky proposition to begin with, but with the way the Dawgs' defense was playing, ignoring the lower risk strategy of a kick towards the sidelines was unnecessary. It was Russian roulette and the gun went off in Georgia's face. It didn't cost Georgia the lead, but you could sense the energy and confidence sliding back to LSU's side of the stadium in the aftermath.
- The Murray fumble. Statistically speaking, Aaron Murray is going to enjoy a better career at Georgia than David Greene, but Greene is still my gold standard for Georgia quarterbacks of the Richt era simply because he learned early on about playing within himself and not trying to do too much. That's a lesson Murray hasn't learned yet (to be fair, it's one that Shockley and Stafford struggled with, too). You can't help but love his competitiveness but that desire to make something happen when everyone around him isn't gets him in trouble,and such was the case on the opening series of the second half. Not only was it a huge momentum shift at the worst possible time, but it also served to throw the defense's mindset, which had been rock solid in the first half, completely out of sync. Ten minutes later, the game was over.
I'm not in the mood to bore you with my usual series of bullet points. Instead, I'll leave you with some of my feelings walking out of the Dome.
It's been a good year for Georgia football. Richt has righted the ship. This team proved in the first half that it deserved to be in the SECCG. And the loss, while certainly disappointing, can serve to be a platform for better days.
There are plenty of lessons to be learned. Some are pretty obvious: the running game needs shoring up with better (and more reliable) personnel, depth is a high priority on the offensive line and special teams personnel also needs upgrading (huge difference in speed between LSU's coverage teams and Georgia's). That's all fixable with continued success on the recruiting front. And strength and conditioning, while improved, still has a ways to go.
But the biggest challenge that lies ahead is about attitude. This team learned how to compete again. Now it needs to learn how to finish. It's good enough to take off a play or two and still whip Georgia Tech. And it can survive losing its cool against an improving Vanderbilt team. But not giving your best 100% of the time against a beast like LSU… well, that gets you beat by 32 points. If Georgia's players and coaches want to return the program to the élite status it enjoyed a few years ago, that's the biggest thing they need to absorb from yesterday's loss.
If I'm Greg McGarity, that's the discussion I'm having with my head football coach in the upcoming weeks. After mentioning how much I enjoyed watching the defense's play in the first half, of course.
Filed under Georgia Football


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With Joe Girardi officially back in New York and Mike Scioscia and Jerry DiPoto hugging it out in Los Angeles/Anaheim/does it really matter anymore, we head into mid-October with four open managerial positions. With that in mind, I've decided to creative a managerial wish-list for each team based on the following criteria:
1. A list of the top four candidates, compiling the names of multiple names that have either been already interviewed by the team, are set to interview down the road, and have been referenced as nominees by multiple outlets.
2. Out of the following four candidates, who makes the best fit and SHOULD BE the manager (This is completely subjective on my part).
3. Of the following four candidates, who is the most likely person to be hired by that respective team (again… completely subjective)
4. WILD CARD BITCHES! A take-off from the great "It's Always Sunny in Philadelphia" episode where Charlie determines his role in the gang as the "Wild Card" and can ultimately sabotage the mission at any point. Essentially a candidate that has zero consideration, but would be an immensely entertaining option. Should not be taken seriously under any circumstances.
Top 4 Likely Candidates:
1. Manny Acta, Former Nationals & Indians Manager, Current MLB Analyst for ESPN
2. Sandy Alomar Jr, Longtime Indians catcher, current Indians bench coach for Terry Francona
3. A.J Hinch, Former Diamondbacks Manager, Current Assistant General Manager for the Padres
4. Rick Renteria, Current San Diego Padres Bench Coach
Who it should be: Sandy Alomar Jr.
Alomar interviewed back in 2011 and while the job initially went to Sveum, he was on the Cubs radar a few years back. Now after a year as the bench coach for Theo's guy Terry Francona, Alomar is a leader who was always well respected by teammates and also has the bilingual bonus factor.
Who it will be: Manny Acta
Theo Epstein in his press conference stressed that they need a dynamic manager who is "creative," has "tremendous energy" and will deliver a consistent message to their young core players and get them developed. Acta has had success in developing young talent with players like Jason Kipnis and Asdrubal Cabrera in Cleveland and Ryan Zimmerman in Washington.
Wild Card, Bitches: Ozzie Guillen
Imagine it now… Ozzie playing fetch with the rats underneath the scoreboard batting cages, looking for every opportunity to flip off his former team that let him go. He did have a real life actual conversation with CSNChicago's Patrick Mooney about the vacant position… like this actually happened… in real life.
Top 4 Likely Candidates:
1. Bryan Price, Former Reds Pitching Coach under Dusty Baker
2. Jim Riggleman, Former Padres, Cubs, Mariners and most recently Nationals manager, Current Reds Triple-A Manager (Louisville Bats),
3. Barry Larkin, Hall of fame Reds Shortstop, Current ESPN MLB Analyst
4. Jose Oquendo, Cardinals Third Base Coach
Who it should be: Jose Oquendo
The Cardinals third base coach has been a solid managerial candidate for quite some time, now having spent 14 seasons in St. Louis under Tony La Russa and now with Mike Matheny. He does have managerial experience with the Puerto Rican team in the World Baseball Classics in 2006 and 2009 and has ties to Reds General Manager Walt Jocketty from his time as GM of the Cardinals. If Walt Jocketty and Reds management were as livid as has been reported with how the season ended, why not bring in a reputable name from one of the most consistent franchises in the game?
Who it will be: Bryan Price
Price is beloved by his pitchers and the Reds pitching staff finished with a 4th best 3.38 and tops in all of baseball with a 1.17 WHIP (walks hits per innings pitched). Remarkably, the highest ERA on the team of their top 11 pitchers was Bronson Arroyo with a 3.79 mark. The pitching was the least of the Reds' concerns this season and Price makes for an easy transition.
Wild Card, Bitches: Rob Dibble
Hey Reds fans, were you perplexed by the perceived lackadaisical attitude of your ballclub? Bring one of the nasty boys back to town and Dibbs will whip the non-urgent Reds into the most uneasy, nervous wreck of a team of all time. If Cueto drops the baseball on Opening Day, STICK A FORK IN HIM! WE PLAY TO WIN HERE. DON'T LIKE IT? "SUCK IT UP."
Top 4 Likely Candidates:
1. Randy Knorr, Nationals Bench Coach
2. Dusty Baker, Former Reds Manager
3. Matt Williams, Former Giants & Diamondbacks 3B, Current DBacks Third Base Coach
4. Tim Wallach, Dodgers Third Base Coach
Who it should be: Randy Knorr
A common theme of this post so far; Knorr has the players' respect and would make for an easier transition with Davey leaving, who was also loved by his players. Their longest tenured player, Ryan Zimmerman told the Washington Times he's a natural fit and knows the organization well.
"I think Randy came up with a bunch of us. He's been around with a long time, obviously being with Davey and being the bench guy, he's learned a ton. I think he's qualified."
Who it will be: Randy Knorr
See above.
Wild Card, Bitches: Jayson Werth… As Player-Manager!
Werth since coming over from Philadelphia has been known to light a fire under his teammates and wanted to immediately change the culture in Washington… when he felt compelled to let longtime loser "Teddy" finally win a President's Race at Nats Park.
"It was a joke on some levels, but on some levels not with the whole Teddy thing," Werth said. "There's an expectancy of losing there. It goes back to the first month of the season when we won two games in a row and [a reporter] asked me about the two-game winning streak. It's like, 'No.' That whole thing had to stop. That had to stop in a big way. When an organization or a team is really young and is coming from many losing seasons, it starts to get ingrained.
Well if that doesn't tell you he's all business, I'm not sure what will. He also has new President sprinter Howard B. Taft on a new cardio weight-loss program.
Top 4 Likely Candidates:
1. Chip Hale¸Current Athletics Bench Coach
2. Dave Martinez, Rays Bench Coach
3. Joey Cora, Former Longtime Bench Coach for Ozzie Guillen in Chicago/Miami. Current Analyst for MLB Network
4. Robby Thompson, Current Mariners Bench Coach
Who it should be: Joey Cora
Cora has roots with the Mariners organization and has spent many years on the bench working alongside Ozzie Guillen, winning a World Series in Chicago in 2005. He has a very good reputation amongst players and has been a candidate for the Mariners job before.
Who it will be: Chip Hale
Chip would make a lot of sense in Seattle, having spent the last few seasons under Bob Melvin in Oakland, so his knowledge of the division would be helpful. He also has managing experience at the Diamondbacks AAA affiliate and was named PCL Manager of the Year during his tenure with the Tucson Sidewinders. Hale's name came up as a possibility for the Mets job before it eventually went to Terry Collins. Still only 48, Hale brings experience and passion for a team that needs patience but also passion at the managerial spot.
Wild Card, Bitches: Alex Rodriguez
A-Rod may never play again… but does the 211-game suspension also forbid him from managing? Alex is clearly a fighter and maybe that's just the attitude the Mariners need to contend in a rough American League West. Plus who wouldn't want this photo in the team lobby?
Follow Ben on Twitter (@bennyheis) & check out the AP Party (@TheAPParty) Podcast over at TheAPParty.com!


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Call for more info: 785-460-3321
Contact Us
Wakeeney Mini Speedway Rules & Regulations
Copyright @ 2015 Wakeeney Mini Speedway All Rights Reserved
Race Results
Contact Us
1) Pits open at 4:00 PM
2) Pre-tech will be 4:00-5:00 PM (All karts must be pre-teched prior to being allowed
on track.)
3) Hot laps will be 5:00 -5:30 PM
4) Pit Meeting 5:45 PM
5) Races will begin promptly at 6:00 PM
1) A pill draw will be used for the first heat line up. The second heat will be inverted start from the first heat. The participants of these heats will receive points based on where they finish in the heats. These points will determine the starting order of the feature race that day.
2) Number of laps in heats will be 10 and features will be 20. Junior class features will be 15 laps. All races will be timed. The clock will start when the green flag has been displayed and will run continuously until the number of laps is completed or the time runs out. 15 minutes allowed for heats and 25 minutes for features.
3) If the time expires under the yellow flag, the race will be restarted for a green/white/checkered finish.
4) If the yellow flag is displayed after the leader takes the white flag, the karts will be relined up and checkered flag will be given under caution.
5) All karts will line up in the staging area. Only driver and one person will be allowed per kart in this area. This is to allow the line up procedure to run more smoothly and avoid congestion. Karts have 90 seconds to enter the track after the staging light turns green.
6) All karts must weigh immediately after exiting track after finishing each race. If the kart weighs light, the driver is allowed to roll off the scales, have the scales reset, and re-weigh one time. If the driver leaves the scaling area he/she forfeits the right to re-weigh.
7) If you are disqualified during post feature race inspections, you will lose all points, trophies, prizes for that day and you will not be allowed to race at the next scheduled race. The second time of disqualification the driver is banned for the year.
8) Points will go with the driver (not the kart) for the class they are registered in.
9) Each kart must have VERY VISIBLE numbers on sides and back of kart in order to be scored.
1) Full face helmets designed for competitive motorsports use are mandatory and must comply with one of the following:
Snell Foundation Specifications Legal Until
SA or M 2015
Snell SA/K or M 2010
CMS 2007 (youth helmet)
CMR 2007 (youth helmet)
Snell SA 2010 12/2020
SFI Specifications Legal Until
24.1/2013 12/2023
BSI A-type and A/FR types are legal for 10 years after date of manufacture.
2) Unaltered approved collar type neck brace designed for motorsports.
3) Gloves
4) Driving suit, leather, heavyweight vinyl or abrasion resistant vinyl jacket and
long pants.
5) Socks and High Top shoes are required
6) Rib protectors with SFI 20.1 certification will be mandatory for all Rookie & JR 1
1) Driver must stop at cold pit line after leaving scales.
2) No bicycles, mopeds, minibikes, rollerskates, blades, boards, etc. allowed in the
pits at any time.
3) No alcoholic beverages in the pits until the entire race program has
4) Each driver is responsible for their pit crew and keeping their pit area clean.
1) When entering the track, the track will be under "yellow", this means enter slowly
and cautiously.
2) Scrubbing tires will be allowed under yellow and on the straight only.
3) Flagman will give all drivers a rolled up green flag to indicate he will be g
going green the next time around and for everyone to stay in line.
4) No one is to approach any racing official on the track or in the score tower once
the initial green flag has been thrown. If a non driver enters the track during a
race that person will be escorted from the facility. If a driver has a question for
the officials, they must wait until after the checkered flag is thrown. Please
conduct yourselves in a proper manner.
1) The race will start when the field is leaving turn 4 at a reasonable speed,
everyone is lined up correctly and the flagman has waved the green flag.
2) The field must make a complete lap to be an official start. If this does not
happen, there will be a complete restart.
3) The field has 2 double file starts to complete a lap. After that, the field will be
lined up single file with the karts that caused the false start at the back.
1) Once there is an official start, if a yellow or red comes out, we will go to a single file restart.
2) Restarts will be done single file with a cone coming out of turn 3. The field will be lined up single file, and as they come out of turn 3 and pass the cone on the outside, as long as everyone is lined up correctly, flagman will give the green flag. Passing is not allowed until you pass the cone. If you hit the cone on the restart, you will be scored as last place.
1) If the yellow or red flag comes out because of an accident or spin out, the kart or karts causing the yellow flag to come out will go to the back of the field. In the Rookie, Jr. 1 and Jr. 2 classes, three spins will be allowed before being sent to the pits. In the Light/Heavy/Open and other classes, 2 spins will be allowed before being sent to the pits. If your kart dies or needs to be shut off during this process, you will be allowed to restart.
2) In the event of a red flag, the running participants should carefully drive to the front straight, stop in a single file and stay in their karts until otherwise directed. Any kart causing the red flag condition will not be allowed to restart.
3) On a red flag, if you go to the pits for any reason and then return before going green, you will go to the back of the field. If a red flag is thrown and you are stopped on the track, only one person will be allowed on the track to restart your kart or do VERY MINOR repairs.
4) If the red flag comes out because of a possibly serious accident, we will allow a family or crew member out to the accident only after the track personnel feel it is safe to do so. Everyone else needs to stay back so that the injured party can be assisted. Once the track is clear, the races will resume.
1) Immediately after the heat races, the karts should exit the race track and go straight to the scales to be weighed. Upon authorization from tech person, they will be directed back to their pits.
2) Immediately after the feature race, feature winner will take a victory lap with the checkered flag. Everyone must then exit track and be weighed. The top two karts in each class will be directed to the tech area. Our track has a list of numbered tech items. The head tech person will draw a random pill number to determine what item will be teched that night. The top two karts in each class will be teched. If any kart is found to be illegal, they will lose their points for that night and will not be allowed to race at the next scheduled race.
3) A motor may be protested by a class competitor for a fee of $100. The protest must be made to the race director or the head tech person by the end of the following race on the track or with in 15 minutes of the end that race. If the motor is found to be in violation of the rules the person who protested the motor will recieve $75 back. The other $25 will go to WMS. If the motor is found to be not in violation, the person belonging to the protested motor will recieve $75 dollars and the remaining $25 will go to WMS.
1) Rookie class: There will be one person allowed in the infield to assist the rookie driver.
2) Any driver that scratches from a race needs to inform a track official as soon as possible.
3) If a driver ignores the black flag when displayed and does not go to the pits for consultation on the next lap after the first signal was given, no laps will be credited after the first signal was given.
We are a NKA sanctioned track for 2017 IKF rules apply for those not specifically addressed in the WaKeeney Mini-Speedway Track Rules. All karts and participants are subject to the rules.
In Regards to fighting at the track, drivers shall be disqualified for one race and no points will be given for that race. The driver shall also have to work a corner at the race that he/she is disqualified from before the driver can race again. Any and all drivers that were involved in the altercation shall be required to follow this rule. If there is a question in regards to who was or wasn't involved, the board of directors shall determine who was involved. If a driver is involved in a second fight, the driver will not be allowed to come back to the track for the rest of the racing season.
If an adult, 18 years or older, is involved in a fight, he/she shall be banned from the track for the next 2 scheduled races. If the adult is involved in a second altercation, he/she will be banned from the track for the rest of the racing season. Anyone who is banned from the track will not be allowed to stay on the outside of the fence, the person will be banned from the entire premises for the determined amount of time.
For more information


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Animal Control answers questions about horse abuse
FORT JONES – What constitutes horse abuse, what is the procedure for reporting it to county animal control, how are these cases prosecuted and what can be done to prevent abuse/neglect incidents?
These were among the inquiries that were answered when Siskiyou County Chief Animal Control Officer Ron Fisher and local veterinarian Trish Chism made a presentation at the well-attended Top of the State Back Country Horsemen general meeting at the Fort Jones Community Center last Thursday evening.
Fisher and Chism stated that they wanted to make the presentation in light of the highly publicized Big Spring horse abuse case last year. Five people were arrested after an eyewitness said she observed the prolonged abuse and neglect of three horses and the live burial of one emaciated yearling. When authorities responded to the scene of the two surviving horses, one had to be euthanized and one was successfully rescued.
The case received international attention from media outlets and animal rights activist groups. Locally, it has prompted members of the public to question the procedures for reporting suspected animal abuse.
Fisher told attendees that he is one of two animal control officers to respond to all reports of animal abuse or neglect in the unincorporated areas of Siskiyou County. Thus, his department is spread thin.
Chism and Fisher stated that livestock owners' choices of caring for their animals vary, and that a horse's less-than-optimal living conditions do not necessarily mean the circumstance falls under the legal realm of abuse or neglect.
"There is right and wrong and then there is legal and illegal. If it's wrong and legal, my hands are tied," said Fisher.
Common causes of horse ailments
Fisher stated that Siskiyou County Animal Control receives a lot of calls from citizens reporting horses that appear thin and malnourished. He said oftentimes the problem lies in the animal's age.
"The biggest problem in the county is old, thin horses," said Fisher.
He explained that the average life span of a horse is 25-26 years, and countywide he often sees horses that are around 34 years old.
"Many horses have a hard time maintaining weight with age," said Chism, noting that they lose their teeth – a natural aging condition – and they develop numerous medical conditions that are challenging and expensive to treat.
Chism said it can become difficult to determine at what point these situations become cruelty and neglect issues.
"When it comes to old horses and welfare issues, it's a very sticky wicket," she said.
Chism stated that other causes of horse thinness is the use of low-quality feed (which is recently more common considering economic conditions) and the ingestion of sand that accumulates in the horse's colon, causing loose stool and difficulty maintaining weight.
Fisher pointed out that it is healthier for a horse to be a little too thin than a little too fat.
"I've seen more animals ruined with kindness than abuse," he commented. "Too much kindness will really ruin a horse."
He explained that overweight horses develop painful health problems, including enlarged necks with fallen crests.
Horse owners' legal requirements
Fisher explained that horse owners are legally required to provide food and water to horses.
Chism stated that depending on the quality of the feed, horses typically need between 12-15 pounds of feed per day.
Regardless of the cause of a horse's illness, "If a horse has a painful or life-threatening condition, its owner is required to address it," said Chism. This includes medical problems with their hooves.
She noted that a lot of horse injuries are home-doctored, and horse owners are not required to call a veterinarian when their horses are ill.
Fisher stated that animal control routinely receives reports of horses that do not have overhead shelter in cold weather conditions.
While shelter is legally required of dog owners whose canines live outdoors, horse owners are not required by law to provide overhead shelter to horses.
Furthermore, horse owners are not required to cover horses with blankets during cold weather conditions.
Chism stated that horses develop a winter coat that protects them from cold weather conditions, although wet and windy conditions are damaging to the health of a horse.
"They need a wind break," she said.
For the most part, however, she said excessive heat is more damaging to horses than excessive cold.
Horse neglect/abandonment prevention
Chism said that population control is a critical component in preventing horse neglect cases.
She said horse neglect and owner surrenders are on the rise due to economic conditions, as the cost of properly caring for a horse is exorbitant.
"Unwanted horses are a tremendous problem in our country right now," said Chism, adding that locally, unwanted horses are often given away.
"Unless you are in the breeding business, don't breed … I am always on a push to stop backyard breeding," said Chism.
Nationwide, veterinarians are receiving requests to euthanize healthy horses, and clinics for euthanasia have been established nationwide.
She encourages castrating horses to limit population growth.
How to report suspected animal abuse
To report suspected animal abuse between the hours of 8 a.m.-5 p.m. Monday through Friday, contact Siskiyou County Animal Control. Those who need to make a report during evenings and weekends should call the Siskiyou County Sheriff's Office, said Fisher.
"We look into every call," he said, and all reports of suspected animal abuse are confidential.
Legal recourse
"For the most part what we do is go out and educate people. Some people are ignorant of the law," said Fisher.
He stated that when animal control determines that an animal is living under abusive and/or neglectful conditions, his department conducts an investigation and then files its findings with the Siskiyou County District Attorney's Office for prosecution.
Fisher explained that it is not often that animals are forcibly removed from their owners due to abuse and neglect. Furthermore, he stated that the Big Springs horse abuse case was a rarity in terms of the severity of the neglect and the prosecution.
As far as prosecution goes, Fisher said that it costs a lot of money to prosecute a citizen for crimes against animals, and an abuser's legal punishment is often light.
Referring to the Big Springs horse abuse case, he noted that of the five citizens arrested on animal cruelty charges, three received 60 days in jail. Community service, probation and fines were the other conditions of their plea agreements with the district attorney's office.
Fisher added that a condition of their probation is they are not allowed to acquire any more animals, and he noted that they have felony convictions on their records.
The fate of seized horses
Fisher stated that locally, the animal control department provides shelter to horses that have been seized because of abuse and neglect.
The department seeks to find long-term homes for the horses by reaching out to rescue operations and adopting them out.
However, nationwide, Chism noted that unwanted horses are often euthanized.


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Welcome to our website! As we have the ability to list over one million items on our website (our selection changes all of the time), it is not feasible for a company our size to record and playback the descriptions on every item on our website. However, if you have a disability we are here to help you. Please call our disability services phone line at (517) 485-9300 during regular business hours and one of our kind and friendly personal shoppers will help you navigate through our website, help conduct advanced searches, help you choose the item you are looking for with the specifications you are seeking, read you the specifications of any item and consult with you about the products themselves. There is no charge for the help of this personal shopper for anyone with a disability. Finally, your personal shopper will explain our Privacy Policy and Terms of Service, and help you place an order if you so desire.
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Singing In The Daisies - Christian Poem Poster
Poetry And Other Materials On This Site Can Be Freely Used For Christian Bible Centered Non-Profit Ministries And must Remain Unchanged In Any Way. All Other Purposes Are With Permission Only. You May Make Requests At "email@example.com" All my poems with stories are both real and fictional designed to illustrate a biblical truth. All Rights Reserved. Please Include Site Name And Link To This Blog. Thank-You.


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Welcome to the U.S. Government Publishing Office's (GPO) Government Book Talk! Our goal is to raise the profile of some of the best publications from the Federal Government, past and present. We'll be reviewing new and popular publications, providing information about new publications in the offing, and talking about some out-of-print classics. The goal is to spotlight the amazing variety of Government publications and their impact on ourselves and our world – and have fun while doing it.
About the agency: GPO opened its doors over 150 years ago on March 4, 1861, and is part of the legislative branch of the federal government. GPO employees have been Keeping America Informed on the documents of our democracy, in both printed and electronic form. The agency produces the Congressional Record, Federal Register, the nation's passports, and other Federal Government documents. It also maintains the Federal Depository Library Program to ensure public libraries nationwide have access to Federal published information.
About the authors:
- GPOWriter: My name is Trudy Hawkins, and I am a writer and marketing specialist in GPO's Publication & Information Sales Division supporting the U.S. Government Online Bookstore. I specialize in email marketing, outreach, and promoting content published by U.S. Federal agencies.
- catgoergen1991: GPO Public Relations Specialist Catherine Goergen has worked in the Public Relations office since 2018. She promotes GPO and the work it does for Congress, Federal agencies, and the public through a variety of platforms, including social media, govinfo featured articles, media outreach, and this blog.
About our blog software: GPO uses WordPress, a free blog software provider with which we have an agreement, to operate our blog, but the content belongs to us.
If you have thoughts about a post, more information about a topic, or ideas about books to discuss, let us know. We see this blog not as a single voice, but as a community of book lovers, be those books print or electronic. Let the discussion begin!


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Brooklyn Nine-Nine's Andy Samberg Teases Shake-Ups and ... a Josh Charles Guest Spot?!
Unless you've been living under a rock or in a wi-fi dead zone, it's no secret that Josh Charles is newly unemployed after a shocking twist on Sunday's episode of The Good Wife.
However, the Emmy-nominated actor is already being eyed for another potential TV gig on Fox's comedy Brooklyn Nine-Nine. "I think we've got to go after Josh Charles hard, right? To play my older brother or something," series star Andy Samberg told with reporters with a laugh at a press luncheon Tuesday.
TV's most heartbreaking deaths
When asked about possible future guest stars on the comedy, which was recently renewed for a second season, Samberg said The Good Wife actor came to mind because of one of Samberg's old SNL castmates. "[Amy] Poehler used to say that she thought he and I looked similar," Samberg said. "One year at some Emmy party, I made him take a picture with me and sent it to her, and she was like, 'Yeah, maybe not.' He's a very handsome man so I take it as a compliment."
Samberg also mentioned the hope of more recurring guest stars next season such as Fred Armisen, Dean Winters and Patton Oswalt, who all appeared in multiple episodes of the sitcom's freshman run. "I think the joy of getting renewed for another season is it feels more legit and maybe we can get more people to come in and have fun with us."
However, before the team can start working on Season 2, the show still has to wrap its first season. Hours ahead of the Season 1 finale (Tuesday, 9:30/8:30c, Fox), Samberg teased a cliff-hanger and "some surprises" ahead. "There's plenty of shake-ups," Samberg said. "[The show is] raising the stakes a little."
Fall TV 2014 Scorecard: Which shows are returning? Which aren't?
Does that mean that Jake may finally confess his feelings for co-worker Amy (Melissa Fumero)? "That comes to a head a little bit in this finale," Samberg said. "I think its developing really slowly, and we also don't know, if at all officially, if it ever will be a thing. It's more like real life where you're like, 'Is that something? Or isn't it?' Or are they just kind of a sibling relationship? I feel like that it is a little more true to life. You have to get to know characters as a viewer before you tell them, 'There's this heavy chemistry here.' No one really knows if there is or isn't exactly, which I think is kind of more interesting."
No matter what happens with Jake and Amy, Samberg said he's looking forward to getting started on Brooklyn Nine-Nine's second season. "It's been really cool and far exceeded anything I was expecting from doing the show," he said of the comedy's eventful first year, which included two Golden Globe wins and an early renewal. "When you're a comedian and you show up on set to a job where you're not writing and you get handed material that's as good as we do on Brooklyn Nine-Nine, you just feel lucky every day."
Brooklyn Nine-Nine's season finale airs Tuesday at 9:30/8:30c on Fox. What do you think should happen with Jake and Amy? Who do you want to see on the comedy next season?
View original Brooklyn Nine-Nine's Andy Samberg Teases Shake-Ups and ... a Josh Charles Guest Spot?! at TVGuide.com
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Do You Need Brake Repair In Colorado Springs?
Brake pads are made to wear out over time, so getting them replaced is a necessity. You should always follow the manufacturer's guidelines, as the mileage of when to get your brake pads changed depends on your vehicle. It can also vary based on how you drive, the type of vehicle, and the conditions you're driving in.
Driving habits can greatly affect the condition of your brakes and when you should replace them. For instance, if you tend to brake hard and stop abruptly frequently, this can lead to more worn-out brake pads. Driving in the city, with lots of stop and go traffic, can also wear out the brake pads more quickly as you are using them more often. The material and hardness of your brake pads can also affect how long they will last. Our technicians at Mercedes-Benz of Colorado Springs will be able to find just the right pair of brake pads for your vehicle.
Schedule Service Appointment
How Often Should I Replace My Brake Pads?
If you're unsure about when to get your brake pads replaced, it's best to have the brakes on your vehicle inspected for the most accurate assessment. Also, you should ask the technician to check your brake pads every time that you bring your vehicle in for an oil change or tire rotation. It only takes them a few minutes and could save you a headache down the road. If you notice any abnormal sounds with your brakes, such as squealing or a scraping noise, bring the vehicle in immediately for an inspection. Another sign that brakes need attention is if your vehicle shakes while you brake. This could be a sign of warped rotors, which can also be assessed at Mercedes-Benz of Colorado Springs.
How Can I Tell If My Brakes Are Going Bad?
Often brakes will make abnormal sounds when they need servicing. It's always best to have your brakes inspected by a professional as soon as you suspect something is amiss. Here's a list of some common sounds you might hear when your brakes start to go bad.
If when you apply the brakes you hear or feel:
- A high-pitched squeal
- A grinding or a hard growl
- A general squeaking when you stop
- Pulsation in the pedal
- Low initial brake bite when applying pedal pressure
- Steering wheel movement when braking
It may be time to have your brakes investigated by a trained professional. Our service professionals at Mercedes-Benz of Colorado Springs can inspect the condition of your vehicle's brake system.
Service Dept. Hours
- Monday 7:00AM-6:00PM
- Tuesday 7:00AM-6:00PM
- Wednesday 7:00AM-6:00PM
- Thursday 7:00AM-6:00PM
- Friday 7:00AM-6:00PM
- Saturday 8:00AM-5:00PM
- Sunday Closed
Mercedes-Benzof Colorado Springs
730 Automotive Drive
730 Automotive Drive
Directions Colorado Springs, CO 80905
- Sales: 855-349-2827
- Service: 855-349-2830
- Parts: 719-208-4425


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Ward Wight Sotheby's International Realty
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By Relocation.com Staff Moving day is stressful - not only do you have to coordinate every aspect of the move, you might also be dealing with the emotions of those around you on a very busy day -- your spouse, your kids, your movers.
Heck, even YOU might be getting emotional.
So be careful that in the heat of the moment you don't make some of these more common mistakes:
1. Ignoring Your Inventory Your moving inventory is proof that items that were packed in your home found their way onto the truck. Make sure that everything that was packed got on the van, and that it's reflected in the inventory. Work out a system with your mover so you can check this. (Moving companies do this all the time, so they'll be prepared for the request.)
When you get to your new home, you'll use the inventory again to ensure that everything gets off the truck and into your new home!
2. Not Doing a Walk-Through of Your House After Loading It's easy to leave stuff behind -- perhaps it's those Christmas decorations in the closet, or maybe that painting in the master bedroom. Before signing anything, go through every closet and cupboard to ensure it's all been loaded. When you sign, your signing over your items to the moving company, and if anything's been forgotten, you'll have to arrange to have it shipped to your new home (and it won't be cheap....)
3. Letting Your Moving Company Move Stuff You Need Access to Once everything's on the truck, you won't be able to get at it until you're at your new home. Make sure you set aside these things where the movers won't accidently load them. This includes enough clothing, cosmetics, toiletries, prescription drugs, electronics like a cell phone and a charger -- and bring a little more than you think you'll need, just in case the moving company's late.
4. Having Kids and Pets Around During the Move Having kids and pets around during the move can be dangerous to them, and to your movers, because the movers will be lifting and moving lots of heavy furniture and boxes. If you can't have someone watch them for a few hours, make sure they stay in a room that's out of the movers' way. In your new home, set up their rooms first and unpack their toys and the TV, so they can occupied while everything gets moved in and unpacked.
5. Letting Movers Move Precious Goods Anything you can't bear the prospect of losing you should keep with you in the car on the way to your new home. These include family mementos like pictures, personal documents, financial information and artwork. Also back up the data on your computer (unless you're carrying it with you) and carry the drive with you.


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State champs!
Meet the new boss of Class 2A soccer.
The Trinity Catholic girls collected Marion County's first soccer state championship Friday night in Melbourne, knocking off powerhouse Pinecrest Gulliver Prep, 4-1, behind yet another hat trick from captain Tabby Tindell.
The senior ran her postseason total to 15 goals as the skilled Celtic front dominated a proud Gulliver Prep program from the opening whistle, peppering the Raiders with 19 shots.
Trinity (20-2) caps off a dominant season with just one loss on the field — a 2-0 setback to 4A state semifinalist Fleming Island — while outscoring the opposition by a convincing 139-to-7 margin. The defense surrendered just two goals during the postseason as the well-balanced unit delivered 61-year-old coach Blendhel Elias his first state title after more than 350 high school matches.
"We played hard and passed the ball well, which is just business for us," Elias said. "We completely dominated a very good team tonight. I told the girls 'I don't care where they come from. If they come from England, it doesn't matter. This was our game tonight.'
"I'm so happy for these girls and what they accomplished. This changes soccer in Ocala."
Tindell got it started with her 13th playoff goal in the 47th minute to break a scoreless tie. The veteran forward spun to her right and fired a firm shot at Raider keeper Sophia Trujillo, who initially appeared to stop it, only to have it trickle through her arms into the net.
But she wasn't done. After the Raiders cut it to 2-1 on Madeleine Intriago's breakaway goal in the 64th minute, Tindell went back to work. She beat Trujillo again after taking a pass from Sydney Jimenez in the 69th minute, then blasted a direct kick to put the game away two minutes later.
When it was over the Florida Gulf Coast-bound senior had recorded her 52nd goal of the season and her 160th career goal during a record-setting four-year run at Trinity. But it was her final three that she'll always remember.
"I feel on top of the world," Tindell said as a green-and-gold-clad student section chanted her name. "To have all these fans out here, it was just crazy. I'm not gonna go to sleep tonight. I'm so excited."
The Celtic defense made it stand, holding the Raiders to just four total shots, only one of which was launched inside the box. Gulliver didn't get off its first shot until the 18th minute when Samantha Lujan's direct kick was batted away by a charging Taylor Mosley, who finished with a pair of saves.
"Our defense knew we just had to control the ball — one kick, one pass, and get it out," senior fullback Danielle Pinder said. "They had a couple of quick runs, but we all knew just to get it out.
"After all the hard work, we just want to give it back to Coach (Elias) now," Pinder said. "It was all worth it."
The Celtics were the aggressor from the opening kick, controlling the midfield and dictating tempo against the unsuspecting Raiders. It looked like Trinity would break the seal early, but Tindell and fellow forward Alyssa Eashoo uncharacteristically failed to convert good looks deep on the Raiders' end
After the break, the Celtics increased their pressure, attacking at every opportunity in hopes of atoning for missed chances over the first 40 minutes.
"I couldn't stop thinking about the missed opportunities in the first half, but (junior sweeper) Katherine Kelly came up to me and said 'Just get that first one in," Tindell said of her halftime exchange. "My team definitely picked me up at halftime.
"Right when we scored the second goal we knew 2-0 is never a good score in soccer, because just one goal can shift the momentum. I was just so focused on getting that opportunity and finishing when it came to put them away. It was beautiful."
Abigail Camargo accounted for the other Celtic goal, blasting a shot off the right wing for the 2-0 lead. Sophomore midfielder Dorothy Hellman added an assist for Trinity.
Gulliver Prep fell to 22-1-4 on the season as veteran coach Everton Edwards lost just his third game in four years at the south Florida powerhouse, moving to 94-3-5 over that span. Numbers that Elias hid from his team prior to the game in order to keep them focused, according to Tindell.
"We didn't really do a lot of research on this team, we didn't really know what their record was or how they played," she said. "Because (Elias) says it only really matters about what our team does. So we decided to just play our game and bring home a state championship."